Economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, which covers DC, MD, NC, SC, VA and WV, are interested in responses to several economic impact questions. You can answer the questions electronically by clicking Here.
1. Has private construction activity increased, decreased, or remained steady in the past 3 months, adjusting for the usual seasonal factors? In what sectors or areas has your firm experienced a pick-up in activity? In what sectors or areas has your firm experienced a decline in activity? Has government construction activity increased, decreased, or remained steady in the past 3 months, adjusting for the usual seasonal factors?
2. If you are seeing any price changes for construction-related materials at this time: What construction-related materials have increased in price in the past three months? Are these being passed on? What construction-related materials have decreased in price in the past three months? Do you expect prices you pay for materials to increase, decrease, or remain unchanged over the next three months?
3. Was obtaining credit/financing easier, harder, or unchanged over the past three months? Why?
4. What is your outlook for the nonresidential construction sector over the next three months? Has your outlook changed from three months ago?
5. Has this winter’s unusually warm weather had any impact on seasonal demand for construction in your market area? Has warm weather affected your ability to start or complete construction projects ahead of schedule?
Please send you answers Associated General Contractors of America chief economist Ken Simonson at simonsonk@agc.org or directly to Reserve Bank of Richmond economist Bob Schnorbus at Bob.Schnorbus@rich.frb.org . Be sure to indicate the major geographic areas (states or metros) that you cover and major line of business.